| Keppel | Colin Richard | | Commander | KEPPEL, COLIN RICHARD, Commander, Royal Navy, was born 3 December 1862, in London, son of Admiral of the Fleet the Honourable Sir Henry Keppel and Lady Keppel, daughter of Martin West, Barrister-at-Law, and Lady Maria West. He joined HMS Britannia in 1875; was Midshipman of Inconstant during the Egyptian War of 1882 (Egyptian Medal; Khedive's Bronze Star); Sub-Lieutenant of Invincible; served with the Naval Brigade landed for service in the Sudan; with the Nile Expedition for the relief of General Gordon at Khartoum 1884-S5; present in the SS Sophis with Lord C Beresford at the relief of Sir C Wilson. He most highly distinguished himself. Lord Charles Beresford thus speaks of him in his Despatch: "I consider that we owe our safety on the steamer, as well as the safety of Sir C Wilson and his party, who undoubtedly would have been killed if the steamer had been destroyed, to the untiring energy of Sub-Lieutenant Keppel". The correspondent of the 'Army and Navy Gazette' says: "Then came a characteristic piece of calculated audacity. Lord Charles noticed that a nuggar in which Sir Charles Wilson had escaped from the wreck of his steamer, had drifted down with some of Gordon's men on board, and had stranded close to the fort. The hero of the Condor sent Keppel with a small boat and half a dozen blue-jackets to the rescue. They cut her out under the very guns and brought her safely off, Keppel being hit in the groin, but luckily only by a spent, or more probably a ricochet, bullet". He was wounded, promoted to Lieutenant for this service (Nile, 1884; five clasps). Appointed to be Equerry to HRH Admiral the Duke of Edinburgh 28 December 1886. He was appointed Extra Equerry January 1896. Flag-Lieutenant to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh when Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, 1886-89, and at Plymouth August 1899 to June 1893; lent to Egyptian Government for service on the Nile, 1897-98; commanded the Flotilla on the Nile. Queen Victoria was pleased to give orders for the following appointment to the Distinguished Service Order "in recognition of the services of the undermentioned Officer, while attached to the Egyptian Army during the recent operations in the Sudan, resulting; in the capture of Abu Hamed and the subsequent occupation of Berber. To be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, viz: Commander Colin Richard Keppel, RN, 11 March 1898. Services in command of the gun-boats with the Nile Expedition, 1898, and was thus mentioned in Despatches by the Sirdar: The exceptional services performed by Commander Keppel and his subordinate officers of the Royal Navy is deserving of special mention. These gun-boats have been for a long time past almost constantly under fire; they have made bold reconnaissances past the enemy's forts and rifle pits, and on the 1st and 2nd of September aided in the capture of all the forts on both banks of the Nile, and in making the fortifications of Omdurman untenable. In bringing to notice the readiness of resource, daring and ability of Commander Keppel and his officers, I wish also to add my appreciation of the services rendered by Engineer E Boyd, RN, and the engineering staff, as well as of the detachment of the Royal Marine Artillery and the gun crews, who have gained the hearty praise of their commanders". Commander Keppel was again mentioned in Despatches after the fall of Khartoum, and received the CB for his services on this occasion (1898). He was noted for promotion on having the requisite sea service (Medal and two clasps); promoted to the rank of Captain 30 May 1899, and received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, 1899, for services in the Sudan (1899); CVO 3 April 1906; Cross of the Order of Naval and Military Merit from the King of Spain; Rear Admiral in Command of Atlantic Fleet, 1909-10. Admiral Keppel retired in 1913. He was created a KCVO in 1908 and a KCIE in 1911, and was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms, House of Commons, in 1915. Sir Colin Keppel was Extra Equerry to His Majesty, and was Equerry in Ordinary. He was a Director of Hawthorn, Leslie and Co, Engineers. Admiral Keppel married, in 1889, Henrietta Mary, daughter of Major General R Blundell, and they had two sons.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Navy |
